Primary Elections & Caucuses

The United States
Primary Elections
and Caucuses are held to determine who will represent a political
party on a ballot. The United States Presidential
Primaries
and Caucuses are usually held from January to June of the election
year. In a Primary, people go to the polls to vote for the
candidate of their choice. In a Caucus, people come together
in town halls or other meeting places to discuss the candidates and
then choose who they will support in the upcoming election.
Once the voting is concluded, State Delegates from each political
party will represent their state at a National Convention.

States may hold a
Closed Primary or
an Open Primary. An
Open Primary is open to all voters
regardless of what party he or she might belong to. At the
poll, the voter chooses which party's primary to vote in. The
voter may be a Democrat and vote for a Republican or vice versa.
A Closed Primary only allows party members to vote in their party's
election. Voters must be a registered party member to vote in
the primary election. Only a registered Republican may vote in
a Republican Primary.

After all the Primaries and
Caucuses
are finished, the State Delegates travel to a
National Convention
to select their political party's candidate. A
State Delegate
will cast his or her vote for the candidate they represent.
Each political party also has extra delegates that vote for the
candidate of their choice. These delegates are party members
that make their own decision about the candidate he or she
feels would best represent the political party. Once the
voting is finished, the political party supports their candidate in
the National Presidential Election on the first Tuesday of
November.

True or False

1. Primary Elections and Caucuses are held to select a candidate
for a political party.

True

False

2. The U.S. Presidential Elections are held on the second Tuesday
in November.

True

False

3. All states hold a Closed Primary.

True

False

4. Only a registered Republican may
vote in a Closed Republican Primary.

True

False

5. In a Caucus, people come
together in town halls or other meeting places, to discuss the candidates.

True

False

6. In a Primary, people go to the polls to
for the candidate of their choice.

7. After all the Primaries and
Caucuses are finished, the State Delegates travel to a National .

8. State from
each political party will represent their state at a National Convention.

9. Each party has extra delegates
that

don't vote for any candidate.

may vote for the candidate of their choice.

advise other delegates.

None of the above.

10. In an
Primary, a voter may choose at the poll which party's primary to vote in.